Often, when the mildest and least dis-
turbing way of emptying the lower bowel is
required, an enema (injection into the
bowels) will be the best. For this, a simple
and generally satisfactory mixture will be
made by dissolving a thumb -sized piece of
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
Castile soap in warm (almost hot) water,
and stirring into this a tablespoonful of
molasses, a tablespoonful of table salt, and a
tablespoonful of olive or lard oil, or a des-
sertspoonful of castor o✪ Enema Mixtureil. There are differ-
ent kinds of injecting arrangements. With
the most convenient, a person can (unless
ill) wait upon himself. If too sick for this,
or if only the old-fashioned straight syringe
can be had , its point should be greased with
lard, and then, the patient lying (best on one
side) on a bed, it can be vcjy gently intro-
duced into the opening to the bowel to the
distance of an inch or so, and gradually the
liquid may be forced through the syringe.
Suppositories are sometimes yet more
convenient, and are least disturbing of all ;
but they are not so sure to take effect, and
their action does not extend far upward. A
suppository is a small soft mass, preprared
for the purpose ; rounded, about as large as
the last joint of a woman's little finger.
Common bioivii soap, cut into such a size
and shape✪ Suppository, and dipped in castor oil, or lard,
may be so used. All that is to be done is to
push it well into the anus (outlet of the
bowel), and let it stay there.
After either a suppository or an enema
has been introduced, the patient ought to
try to retain it for some minutes, for effective
operation.
To Check Diarrhoea.
Not every looseness of the bowels ought
to be stopped at once by medicine. Some-
times it is a 7'elicf to a condition of the sys-
tem which would involve a worse illness if
it did not come.
Infants, especially, need to have the
bowels moved two or three times daily ;
most of all while they are teething. We do
not call it diarrhoea in them unless there are
at least four or five large liquid passages in
twent3^-four hours. Of course when it is
excessive it must be attended to, or weak-
ness and exhaustion will follow.
Correctives, generally, should be the
first things given in babies' diarrhoea. Sour-
ness of stomach is commonly present with
it ; therefore lime-iuatcr being antacid, is
particularly suitable. Another good cor-
rective is spiced syrup of rhubarb- On ac-
count of the spices in it, this article does not
purge like simple syrup of rhubarb ; it only
promotes an even, regular action of the mus-
cular coat of the bowels, and so tends to get
thmgs right agam.
Soda {sodium bicarbojiate) is an antacid
corrective, stronger in this effect than lime-
water ; but less astringent or binding.
Cinnamon water is a gentle astringent ;
so is camphor water. These do well to come
next after lime-water or soda and spiced
rhubarb, if the complaint is not corrected by
them. Should it still be obstinate, more
potent checking medicines will be needful.
Of these, /><:?; Y^*:';'/^ and laudanum have much
power ; but they must be used very cau-
tiously, on account of their containing
opium.
Page 150 · 2 recipe records on this page
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Often, when the mildest and least disturbing way of emptying the lower bowel is required, an enema (injection into the bowels) will be the best. For this, a simple and generally satisfactory mixture will be made by dissolving a thumb -sized piece of
Castile soap in warm (almost hot) water, and stirring into this a tablespoonful of molasses, a tablespoonful of table salt, and a tablespoonful of olive or lard oil, or a dessertspoonful of castor oil. There are different kinds of injecting arrangements. With the most convenient, a person can (unless ill) wait upon himself. If too sick for this, or if only the old-fashioned straight syringe can be had , its point should be greased with lard, and then, the patient lying (best on one side) on a bed, it can be vcjy gently introduced into the opening to the bowel to the distance of an inch or so, and gradually the liquid may be forced through the syringe.
Suppositories are sometimes yet more convenient, and are least disturbing of all ; but they are not so sure to take effect, and their action does not extend far upward. A suppository is a small soft mass, prepared for the purpose ; rounded, about as large as the last joint of a woman's little finger. Common brown soap, cut into such a size and shape, and dipped in castor oil, or lard, may be so used. All that is to be done is to push it well into the anus (outlet of the bowel), and let it stay there.
After either a suppository or an enema has been introduced, the patient ought to try to retain it for some minutes, for effective operation.
To Check Diarrhoea.
Not every looseness of the bowels ought to be stopped at once by medicine. Sometimes it is a 7'elicf to a condition of the system which would involve a worse illness if it did not come.
Infants, especially, need to have the bowels moved two or three times daily ; most of all while they are teething. We do not call it diarrhoea in them unless there are at least four or five large liquid passages in twenty-four hours. Of course when it is excessive it must be attended to, or weakness and exhaustion will follow.
Correctives, generally, should be the first things given in babies' diarrhoea. Sourness of stomach is commonly present with it ; therefore lime-iuatcr being antacid, is particularly suitable. Another good corrective is spiced syrup of rhubarb- On account of the spices in it, this article does not
purge like simple syrup of rhubarb ; it only promotes an even, regular action of the muscular coat of the bowels, and so tends to get things right again.
Soda {sodium bicarbonate) is an antacid corrective, stronger in this effect than limewater ; but less astringent or binding.
Cinnamon water is a gentle astringent ; so is camphor water. These do well to come next after lime-water or soda and spiced rhubarb, if the complaint is not corrected by them. Should it still be obstinate, more potent checking medicines will be needful. Of these, bismuth and laudanum have much power ; but they must be used very cautiously, on account of their containing opium.
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